Armed and Dangerous – Part 13
A large portion of the content of this lesson came from Dressed To Kill by Pastor Rick Renner.Ephesians 6:13-18 NKJV Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (14) Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, (15) and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (16) above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. (17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; (18) praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
The Lance of Prayer and Supplication
The lance although not mentioned by name in the text is clearly included.
When you wield the “lance of prayer and supplication”, this powerful prayer tool is thrust forward into the spirit realm against the works of the enemy. By forcibly hurling this divine instrument in the face of the enemy, you exercise the power God has given you to stop major obstacles from developing in your personal life.
The Roman lances varied greatly in size, shape and length. Some were used for gouging the enemy up close and some were used for hurling at the enemy at a distance.
After hitting his enemy with longer lance, the soldier would draw his sword and run to finish off the opponent – cutting off his head while he lay wounded on the ground.
Various Kinds of Prayer
(Ephesians 6:18 NKJV) praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
(Ephesians 6:18 NIV) And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
God has made many kinds of prayer available to us for different purposes in our fight of faith.
Just as a Roman soldier had the short lance for thrusting into his enemy at close range, nothing can compare to the believer’s prayer of faith that is filled with authority!
Similarly, just as the Roman soldier had a long lance to hurl at his opponent from afar, we have the weapon of intercession that allows us to thwart an enemy attack in our lives or in someone else’s life before it even occurs.
Unseen spirits continually seek to bombard the flesh and hassle the minds of believers. These wicked spirits hat the presence of Jesus Christ and His church on the earth, making prayer an indispensable offensive weapon for believers to use to ward off the enemy’s attacks.
We simply cannot maintain a victorious position apart from a life of prayer!
Yes, Jesus has already won the victory through His death, burial, and resurrection, but it is our responsibility to enforce and maintain that victory.
How often should we pray?
(Ephesians 6:18 NKJV) praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
The phrase “praying always” comes from the Greek phrase:
“en panti kairo” which means “at every time or season.” It can be accurately translated “at every opportunity” or “every chance you get.”
Paul is telling us, “Anytime you get a chance, no matter where you are or what you are doing, at every opportunity, every season, and every possible moment – SEIZE the time to pray!”
Prayer is not optional for the Christian who is serious about his spiritual life!
Prayer is the most ignored piece of weaponry the Body of Christ possesses today yet is equally as important as all the other pieces.
Seven Kinds of Prayer for the Believer
- Prayer of Consecration
- Prayer of Petition
- Prayer of Faith (or Authority)
- Prayer of Thanksgiving
- Prayer of Supplication
- Prayer of Intercession
- Prayer of Worship
- Prayer of Consecration
In the New Testament, the word for prayer used 127 times is “proseuche”.
“Pros” is the Greek prefix meaning “face to face”, “close” or “up-front.”
(John 1:1 NKJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
It tells us there is an intimate face to face relationship with God.
Prayer should bring us face to face and eyeball to eyeball with God in an intimate relationship.
In the OT, people would very often bring a gift of thanksgiving in advance of their prayer. (Example of Hannah offering Samuel for God’s service)
Often, they would make a vow or pledge to give something to give back to God once the prayer was answered.
This word for prayer is much more than praying a prayer request. It is also an act of surrender, consecration, and thanksgiving.
The idea behind “proseuche” is this: Come face to face with God, and surrender your life in exchange for His, consecrating your life on an ongoing basis.
(Matthew 26:39 NKJV) He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
- Prayer of Petition
The second most often word for “prayer” is taken from the Greek word “deesis”.
This word has to do with the basic spiritual needs that must be met in order for a person to continue in his or her existence.
It can mean a cry for God’s help that exposes a person’s insufficiency to meet his or her needs.
(Hebrews 5:7-8 NKJV) who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, (8) though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.
Jesus was praying for the Father to provide divine assistance to help Him in his humanity.
“Deesis” has to do with humility and a deep dependency on God.
(James 5:17 NKJV) Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.
A prayer of petition is therefore prayer that exposes a person’s insufficiency and his continual need for God.
- Prayer of Faith or Authority
“Aiteo” is used approximately 80 times in the New Testament. This word means “I ask” or “I demand”.
This word describes someone who prays authoritatively, almost demanding something from God. This person knows what he needs, and he isn’t afraid to boldly ask to receive it!
“Aiteo” has more to do with tangible needs such as food, shelter, money, etc.
(John 15:7 NKJV) If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
This is not disturbing when you keep this thought in context with the first part of the verse.
When we allow the Word of God to permanently and habitually lodge in our hearts, that Word so transforms our minds that when we pray, we do so in accordance with God’s will.
(1 John 5:14-15 NKJV) Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. (15) And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
God’s desire is that you move forward boldly and courageously in prayer in order to seize His will for your life and bring it into manifestation!
- Prayer of Thanksgiving
“Eucharista” – good and grace – wonderful feelings and good sentiments that freely flow up out of the heart in response to something.
(Ephesians 1:15-16 NKJV) Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, (16) do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:
“My feelings concerning you cannot be contained. I can’t help but thank God for you!”
(Colossians 1:3 NKJV) We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
(1 Thessalonians 1:2 NKJV) (2) We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers,
(1 Timothy 2:1-2 NKJV) Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, (2) for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
- Prayer of Supplication
“Enteuxis” – This word can be translated in some cases as “intercession”. I carries the thought of earnest, heartfelt continued prayer for someone else.
The prayer of supplication can be prayed for believers and unbelievers alike depending on the need.
(James 5:16 AMP) Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].
- Prayer of Intercession
“Entugchano” – This is where we stand in the gap for another and bridge two people together. It means to fall into a situation or happen into a circumstance with someone else.
Intercession is when someone is under pending trouble or judgment, one stands in the gap for them to stop the danger.
(Hebrews 7:25 NKJV) Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
“Huperentugchano” – This word is only found one time in the New Testament.
This word is when someone falls into a deep situation and calls out for a rescue operation to begin.
(Romans 8:26 NKJV) Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
The Holy Spirit does this work on our behalf.
It speaks of those times when the Spirit of God supernaturally joins us in our circumstances, shares our emotions and frustrations, and then begins working a rescue plan that ultimately get us out of that mess.
- Prayer of Worship
“Proskuneo” – The simple definition of the word for worship is to kiss the hand like a dog would lick the hand of its master.
John 4:23-24 NKJV But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. (24) God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”